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APPLYING TO ITB: APPLICATION THROUGH THE CENTRAL APPLICATIONS OFFICE (CAO)
Anyone seeking a first year undergraduate place on a full-time course at ITB must apply for it via the Central Applications Office. The CAO is the national organisation that accepts applications for admission to undergraduate courses in institutions of higher education in Ireland. The CAO is an administration centre for the processing of applications nationally and does not determine whether or not you will be offered a course place. The participating institutions make independent decisions on admissions.
Details of the CAO applications process are published in a handbook available from the CAO, Tower House, Eglington Street, Galway. Tel: (091) 509800; Fax: (091) 562344; Website www.cao.ie.
Applicants are encouraged by the CAO to use the online method of application, via the CAO website.
Applications for places at ITB through the CAO system are made via the CAO Application Form, which accompanies the CAO Handbook. Pages 1 and 2 of the form are normally sufficient for standard applicants. (Republic of Ireland school-leavers presenting results in the Leaving Certificate or National University of Ireland matriculation examinations since 1985).
As with all other courses cleared through the CAO, every ITB course has a unique code and reference. You apply for places by writing the course code and course reference in the table(s) on page 2 of the CAO form. The codes and references for courses at ITB are listed below in Table A below.
Applicants completing the CAO application form must accept all the directions and conditions set out in the form and in the CAO handbook. Great care must be taken in filling out CAO forms, as neither ITB nor the CAO accepts responsibility for any mistakes made or for the consequences of any such mistakes if applicants do not follow the correct procedures.
Every academic institution will have its own application dates. Key dates for applications made through the CAO to ITB are:
| 1 February 2018, 5.15 pm - Closing date for applications |
| 1 May 2018, 5.15 pm - Deadline for receipt of late applications (extra fee to be paid) |
| 1 July 2018, 5.15 pm - Deadline for receipt of change-of-mind applications (provided a valid application was made in the first place) |
NEW LEAVING CERTIFICATE GRADING SCALE AND REVISED COMMON POINTS SCALE
The Universities and the Institutes of Technology have been working in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills to bring about progressive and incremental enhancements of the transition from second to third level.
The central focus of this work has been to agree reforms of Leaving Certificate assessment and grading and the
admissions processes to higher education, in order to mitigate some of the undesirable effects of the so-called “points system”.
NEW LEAVING CERTIFICATE GRADING SCALE
As part of this process, it has been agreed to change how the Leaving Certificate examinations are graded, using fewer broader grade bands. The current 14-point grading scale (A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, etc. where the grade bands typically cover 5%) will be replaced by an 8-point scale (based on a grade band 10% wide).
The grades at Higher level and Ordinary level are distinguished by prefixing the grade with H or O respectively.
| New Grade | % Marks |
|---|---|
| H1/O1 | 90-100 |
| H2/O2 | 80<90 |
| H3/O3 | 70<80 |
| H4/O4 | 60<70 |
| H5/O5 | 50<60 |
| H6/O6 | 40<50 |
| H7/O7 | 30<40 |
| H8/O8 | 0<30 |
REVISED COMMON POINTS SCALE
The implementation of the New Leaving Certificate Grading Scale requires a new Common Points Scale. Irish Universities, Institutes of Technology and all other Colleges which accept applications through the CAO, have introduced a revised Common Points Scale in 2017, as follows:
| Result % Range | Leaving Certificate Grade | Existing Points for Higher Level Subjects | Leaving Certificate Grade | Points for Ordinary Level Subjects | Leaving Certificate Grade | Foundation Level Mathematics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
90-100 |
H1 | 100 | O1 | 56 | F1 | 20 |
80-89 |
H2 | 88 | O2 | 46 | F2 | 12 |
70-79 |
H3 | 77 | O3 | 37 | ||
60-69 |
H4 | 66 | O4 | 28 | ||
50-59 |
H5 | 56 | O5 | 20 | ||
40-49 |
H6 | 46 | O6 | 12 | ||
30-39 |
H7 | 37 | O7 | 0 | ||
0-29 |
H8 | 0 | O8 | 0 |
All students applying through the CAO from 2017 will be awarded points under the new system, no matter when they sat the Leaving Certificate, ensuring a level playing field for all students. Points awarded under the new scale cannot be compared with points awarded in the past.
NEW Leaving Certificate Grading Scale & Revised Common Points Scale, see Frequently Asked Questions
For further information, see www.transition.ie
What are the requirements for admission to ITB?
Please check individual course pages for minimum entry requirements
Which ITB courses are currently on offer via CAO?
The list below outlines the courses that are on offer in 2016 / 2017 where application is made through the CAO.
Table A
| Code | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Level 6 | ||
| BN001 | Higher Certificate in Engineering Computer Engineering | 2 years |
| BN002 | Higher Certificate in Science in Computing in Information Technology | 2 years |
| BN003 | Higher Certificate in Business | 2 years |
| Level 7 | ||
| BN009 | Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronic Engineering | 3 years |
| BN010 | Bachelor of Business in Information Technology | 3 years |
| BN011 | Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care* | 3 years |
| BN012 | Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering | 3 years |
| BN013 | Bachelor of Science in Computing in Information Technology | 3 years |
| BN014 | Bachelor of Business | 3 years |
| BN015 | Bachelor of Engineering (allowing later specialisation in Computer Engineering or Mechatronic Engineering) | 3 years |
| BN016 | Bachelor of Business (allowing later specialisation in Business or Business with Information Technology or International Business or Accounting and Finance or Digital Marketing) | 3 years |
| BN017 | Bachelor of Business in International Business* | 3 years |
| BN020 | Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management and Coaching* | 3 years |
| BN021 | Bachelor of Arts in Creative Digital Media | 3 years |
| BN022 | Bachelor of Science in Horticulture | 3 years |
| BN025 | Bachelor of Arts in Community and Youth Development* ( formerly Social & Community Development ) | 3 years |
| BN030 | Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Care and Education* | 3 years |
| BN034 | Bachelor of Science in Computing in Digital Forensics and Cyber Security | 3 years |
| BN040 | Bachelor of Arts in Digital Marketing | 3 years |
| Level 8 | ||
| BN101 | Bachelor of Business (Honours) | 4 years |
| BN103 | Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Information Technology | 4 years |
| BN104 | Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computing | 4 years |
| BN107 | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care | 4 years |
| BN108 | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (allowing later specialisation in Computer Engineering or Mechatronic Engineering) | 4 years |
| BN109 | Bachelor of Business (Honours) (allowing later specialisation in Business or Business with Information Technology or International Business or Accounting and Finance) | 4 years |
| BN110 | Bachelor of Business (Honours) in International Business | 4 years |
| BN111 | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sports Management and Coaching | 4 years |
| BN112 | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Creative Digital Media | 4 years |
| BN113 | Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Horticulture | 4 years |
| BN114 | Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Accounting and Finance | 4 years |
| BN115 | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Community and Youth Development ( formerly Social & Community Development ) | 4 years |
| BN117 | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Computer Engineering in Mobile Systems | 4 years |
| BN118 | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Care and Education | 4 years |
| BN119 | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Digital Marketing | 4 years |
| BN120 | Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computing in Digital Forensics and Cyber Security | 4 years |
| BN121 | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechatronic Engineering | 4 years |
*Students who successfully complete year two of this programme and who do not wish to progress to the third year may receive a Higher Certificate award.
Bonus Points for Higher Level Mathematics
Points awarded:
A bonus of 25 points will be allocated to students who achieve a grade H6 and above in higher level mathematics in higher level mathematics in the Irish Leaving Certificate examination.
Process:
All students presenting grade H6 or above in higher level mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for mathematics. The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice.
The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the higher level mathematics subject (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if higher level mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score.
For example, an applicant has the following seven results:
| Subject | Level | Grade | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Irish |
Higher | H4 | 66 |
| English | Ordinary | O1 | 56 |
| Maths | Higher | H6 | 46+25=71 |
| French | Higher | H3 | 77 |
| Biology | Higher | H4 | 66 |
| Geography | Ordinary | O1 | 56 |
| History | Higher | H3 | 77 |
Add the best six scores, shown in bold. Points = 413
Without the Bonus Points scheme for Higher Level Mathematics this applicant's points would be 398 as the points for Geography would have been included instead of Higher Level Mathematics.
GCE A level Mathematics
25 additional points will be awarded for a grade E (passing grade) or better in A2 Mathematics. This will apply to only ONE mathematics subject of the following: Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Pure Mathematics, and only where that subject is used as one of the subjects for scoring purposes.
Explaining the Leaving Certificate 'Points' system
As there are generally more qualified applicants for courses than there are places available, places are offered to applicants in accordance with an order of merit determined by a points system, which tallies up your total marks over your six best subjects. Results from one sitting only of the Leaving Certificate may be counted for points.
In addition, as indicated above, a bonus of 25 points will be allocated to students who achieve a Grade H6 or above in Higher Level Mathematics in the Irish Leaving Certificate.
Places will be offered to candidates who satisfy the minimum entry requirements strictly in the order of merit established by the points system. However, the Institute allocates a number of places outside the points system to mature students, students with special needs and to students from an educationally and/or socially disadvantaged background, consistent with the mission of the Institute.
Applications from Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) students
Holders of the LCVP apply in the normal way through the CAO system. Points are awarded on the same basis as per the Leaving Certificate.
The LCVP subject will be considered as a passing subject provided the student achieves at least a pass grade. This will apply to entry for Honours Degree (NFQ Level 8), Ordinary Degree (NFQ Level 7) and Higher Certificate (NFQ Level 6) academic courses. The following points scoring system will be used:
PASS : 30
MERIT : 50
DISTINCTION : 70
LCAP (Leaving Certificate Applied Programme)
The LCAP subjects do not meet the minimum entry requirements for admission to academic courses and are not considered as passing subjects.
Mature Applicants
If you are a mature applicant ( over 23 years of age on 1st January of the year of entry ) and wish to apply for our Full Time Programme Click here
QQI FET (formerly FETAC ) Applicants
For minimum entry requirements see www.itb.ie/QQI-FET
Special Category Applicants
Anyone making a 'special category' application will need to complete some extra steps in their CAO application. Details of these procedures are to be found in the CAO Handbook. Special category applicants will need to complete pages 3 and 4 of the CAO Form. There are a range of circumstances and conditions under which a special category application can be made. People who can make applications in this category include the following:
- Mature applicants (to qualify, applicants must be over 23 years of age on 1st January of the year in which admission is sought)
- Applicants with special needs requiring special facilities
- Applicants presenting FETAC qualifications
- Applicants under the ITB REACH Programme (Part of our Access Initiative)
- Applicants presenting school-leaving examinations (other than the Leaving Certificate) including those taken outside Ireland.
Special Needs Applicants
In designing the ITB campus, we paid particular attention to access and how best to accommodate students with special needs. We encourage applications from students with special needs, regardless of any physical or sensory disability.
Applicants with special needs may be eligible to receive a reduction in points for entry to courses subject to places being available. This is our own version of the recently established Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) Scheme which we have operated for many years and allows us to assess our own applicants on an individual basis. To be considered for this special scheme, applicants must still satisfy the minimum entry and subject requirements.
The process is simple. Applicants with special needs should apply through the CAO and tick the medical box on the CAO application form and submit their medical documents directly to the CAO. Applicants can be assured that disclosure of a disability or specific learning difficulty is required solely to enable colleges to support access to higher education. Offers of places to applicants in this category are made by the CAO in the normal way in Round 1.
Every attempt is made to facilitate students with special needs and to provide special equipment and supports where ITB budgets allow. The supports available include provision of, and training in, assistive technology, access to the Assistive Technology Centre in the library, mentoring programme and academic support. A dyslexia support specialist is currently available to ITB students.
Special arrangements can be made for students with special needs at examination time, provided sufficient notice is given. These arrangements can include the provision of a separate room to take examinations, the availability of an individual to read examination questions, the provision of additional time in which to complete your examinations, the provision of a scribe, taping your examinations etc.
Offers of places to students in this category are made by CAO in the normal way.
Applicants presenting School Leaving Examinations other than the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination
The results of examinations other than the Irish Leaving Certificate and NUI Matriculation are given points by comparison with the Irish Leaving Certificate, so that applicants can be assessed in the same way as other applicants in the points system.
Further details of how this comparison is made is available on the CAO Website
